Zebaldt Ngaruka
GOBABIS – An early childhood development centre at Epukiro constituency’s Omaueuozonjanda settlement in the Omaheke region is in a precarious deteriorating state.
Epukiro Kindergarten was built in 1991 by the community members at the settlement with some funding from the Council of Churches in Namibia.
It is one of the oldest ECDs in Omaheke.
The centre registered over 40 pupils for this academic year.
The centre also had a poultry farming and horticulture culture section, which were aimed at equipping learners with agricultural skills from a tender age.
All of these have now become white elephants.
Amongst others, there were cracked walls, broken windows, doorless classrooms and non-functioning toilets when the New Era crew visited the centre recently.
One of the teachers at the centre, Utiapatje Kangootui, lamented their conditions, saying they are teaching the future leaders of Namibia in an unconducive environment.
“This building might fall one day, and that will cause danger to the lives of both the children and staff members of the school,” Kangootui said.
She added that learning is disturbed, as the wind is blowing away materials during lesson time due to the broken windows and doors.
“Even though the floors here are in a dilapidated state, our playground is only left with its name, as all the playing equipment is damaged,” she added.
The teacher said toilet facilities are not working, and pupils and staff find it difficult when nature calls.
“We use water baskets to flush one toilet for all of us here – and that is not even hygienic,” said the teacher.
Asked what other needs the centre has apart from renovations required to rescue the ailing building, Kangootui said office equipment, tables and chairs for the pupils are among their most pressing needs.
“We also need expansion on toilet facilities where teachers can be separated from the pupils. It will be ideal if we have a better security fence for our place to avoid theft of property,” she requested.
Another concern is that the centre is situated next to the police station, which teachers view as not an ideal environment for pupils.
“That is a big distraction for the children, as you know the fear of police officers by the kids in society, in addition to the behaviour and bad language used by some inmates at the station,” she stated.
She recommends a wall to be built between the centre and police station.
“Even the fence between us and the police is not strong – and sometimes, the trial-awaiting suspects cross over. This is not good at all. The security of little ones might be at risk, and something must be done,” she asked.
The centre also needs a computer, printer, television and teaching materials for children.
“We requested the constituency office for a feeding programme so that our pupils can eat here because sometimes we stay up to 17h00,” Kangootui said.
According to some community members, a water tank that was supposed to be at the centre vanished into thin air.
“Even some materials used for gardening and pig projects were taken. These are the people who are supposed to look after the centre, but they took properties for their own use,” said an anonymous community member. The head of ECD in the region, Clency-Star Kandetu-Kambirongo, is aware of the problem at Epukiro Kindergarten.
She clarified that the ECDs are community-based projects, and the ministry only facilitates them.
“Our mandate is to oversee whether the standard is observed. We only assist with building once we get donations. We do not even pay the salary of the teachers, nor do we recruit. It is all in the hands of the community, and we only check the records of teachers to see whether they have criminal records related to child trafficking,” she said.
She added it is the responsibility of the Epukiro community to raise money to renovate the facility, as the ministry does not have funds.
“We were there in Epukiro, and made an assessment in 2022 to see whether they meet the standards required by the ministry of gender equality. We advise them to renovate the centre, or else it will face closure,” she said.
On the feeding programme at the ECDs, the head said: “We are thinking of a model to be used to curb this problem. We tried to get assistance from constituency councillors, but they are facing difficulties, as the food they are distributing is for drought relief, and not meant for ECDs”.
-zngaruka@yahoo.com